Cowboys-Vikings set to re-open Metrodome

MINNEAPOLIS – Saturday night’s Cowboys-Vikings preseason game will mark the first game at the Metrodome since Dec. 5.

A severe snow storm forced the roof of the stadium to cave in Dec. 12, resulting in the Vikings postponing their game with the Giants, which was eventually moved to Detroit.

There is a new roof and field at the Metrodome, where workers were busy putting finishing touches in Friday.

San Antonio billionaire B.J. “Red” McCombs lobbied during his tenure as Vikings owner to have a new stadium built. The team’s current ownership is doing the same, and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is supporting their efforts.

“It’s just a matter of fact that the Metrodome is outdated,” Vikings DE Jared Allen is quoted as saying in a Minneapolis Tribune story about the Metrodome’s comeback. “It’s the only stadium I’ve ever been in where I have to ride the vending elevator down to the locker room, where I have to park in the admissions parking lot and walk through the ticket office.”

From a personal standpoint, I like the Metrodome. The press box is close to the field and the building has character because it’s one of the loudest in the NFL. Although not a big fan of domed stadiums, the Metrodome is among my favorite NFL venues because of what I mentioned above.

But if the Vikings are to stay in Minneapolis, they’ll need a new stadium.

“The fans are phenomenal,” Allen said. “Imagine what it would be like if we had a nice, new stadium for the fans.”